If you have hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be seriously frustrating. Fortunately, your hearing aids should have no trouble doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Before you do anything extreme, look at this list. It might be time to come in and talk with us if you find it’s not one of these ordinary issues. For instance, your hearing aids may need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still require recharging and replacing sometimes. That means that it’s important to maintain your hearing aids’ batteries. The first thing you should do if your hearing aid starts to fail or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a beneficial investment, especially if you like to stock up. Even if you keep batteries sealed until it’s time to use them, always a good idea, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you purchased months ago likely won’t last as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you unpack new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This gives the zinc time to become active, and can potentially help the batteries last longer.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Your hearing aids will collect dirt and debris no matter how clean you keep your ears and if you have trouble hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. You may find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem a little off or distorted.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products available specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with items you already have around the house. Once you’ve taken apart your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean glasses or smartphone) to wipe down the components.
You can help stop your hearing aids from attracting excess grime by practicing simple hygiene habits. Wash and dry your hands before you take care of your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing things, like washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that may put them at risk of being spritzed, sprayed, or splattered.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can be a real problem for hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (think sweating, not snorkeling). The vent in the hearing aid and the battery can even be impacted by humidity in the air. Depending on how much moisture’s entered, you might experience issues from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They may even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Make sure that when you store your hearing aids, the battery door is open; and if you’re storing them for longer than 24 hours, take out the batteries entirely. It takes almost no effort and ensures that air can move, and any trapped moisture can get out.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. The bedroom is a practical spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Storing them in the bathroom might seem convenient but moisture is just too much. You will likely want to purchase a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid environment. Pricier versions plug in, but less costly options use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you purchase a pair of shoes) to take in moisture.
None of these are working out? It might be time to consult us.